100 gs., three miles, beating Mr. W. Etwall's gr. c. by Thistlewhipper. 20 to 1 on The Hero, who walked in.

At Goodwood he walked over for the Craven Stakes, one mile and a quarter.

At the same meeting, ridden by A. Day, he was beaten by Lord Clifden's Footstool, for Her Majesty's Plate, three miles and five furlongs. 5 to 2 on The Hero, who was beaten by a length.

At Weymouth, ridden by A. Day, he won Her Majesty's Plate of 100 gs., heats, two miles, beating Mr. Wadsworth's Heriar, who was drawn after the first heat.

SUMMARY OF THE HERO'S PERFORMANCES.

The Emperor's Vase of 1847 was presented by Messrs. John Day and John Powney to Mrs. Gully; and that for 1848 was purchased of them by John Day, junior, and presented by him to Lady Mill. In reckoning" the value clear" of Her Majesty's Vase, we have put it at two hundred.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE LATE LORD GEORGE BENTINCK.

(CONTINUED FRom our Magazine of January, 1847.)

The demise of the Turf leviathan, Lord George Bentinck, together with the unfortunate manner in which his earthly career was terminated, demands from us more than a passing notice, not only on the close of his eventful life, but as a record of his unwearied zeal for the purification of everything connected with our racing pastimes.

The noble and the great are never in need of eulogies during their lives, or elegies after their deaths. What sincerity there may generally be in such effusions is not at present a matter for discussion. But there can be no doubt that a feeling of deep regret has pervaded all classes of the community on the occasion of the untimely decease of Lord George Bentinck. The sudden death of a fellow-creature is at all times a source of melancholy reflection; but when such an event occurs in the instance of a distinguished public character, cut off in the prime of life, and, as it would seem, without a moment's warning, the circumstances become infinitely more impressive. Whatever difference of opinion there may have been respecting the political course of the late nobleman, his conduct on the Turf merited and obtained universal applause and admiration. While he won "golden opinions" from all men of integrity, he was a terror to those whose deeds would not bear the light; and these are the miserable exceptions in the shape of humanity, by whom his death will not be sincerely lamented. The sorrow for the bereavement society has experienced, more particularly by the supporters of the old English sport of horse-racing, in consequence of the melancholy decease of Lord George Bentinck, has been alike unanimous and unfeigned. If he had faults, let them be buried with him in the grave; yet let us not entirely overlook the maxim, De mortuis nil nisi verum.

It is now between two and three years since the late nobleman relinquished the leadership of the Turf, to assume the leadership of the Protectionist party in the House of Commons; and if he did not attain the like success in one arena as in the other, it may be truly said of him, that in both spheres he displayed ability, tact, and energy that took the world by surprise. It was a transition from a commanding power in the stable to a commanding power in the senate. Yet, after all, the greensward was his proper sphere of action. It was there where he achieved his best triumphs; and for the good he effected in that capacity all right-minded sportsmen will ever hold his memory in the most grateful estimation. Everything he did bears the stamp of a masterhand. He had always the best of the game he played; and yet he played it fairly-there was no trickery in him. At the period when feathers or catch-weights were allowed in handicaps, where was to be found the lightest feather? Why, in Lord George Bentinck's stable; and of his own tutelage, too. He would teach the veriest pigmy that

was ever put upon a saddle the best method to rein in and manage the "high-mettled racer." Nay, more, he would give him hands to hold, and head to judge the pace. It is a notorious fact that the first time he put up little Kitchener to public gaze, the weight of the Mite, as he was then not inaptly called, including saddle, bridle, and all the other appendages of a jockey, was some pounds under three stone. The cry at the instant of his mount was, "He'll never sit on ;" but he did, and won the race in gallant style.

Who but Lord George, during the severe frost in 1843, would have hit upon the idea of tanning the avenue in Goodwood Park? and so, by the aid of layers of manure below, and the natural shelter of the arching trees above, he was enabled to work his horses through the winter, when no one else could, and thus bring them into a state of forwardness to the early spring gatherings, giving him a great advantage over his competitors. He had, by the exercise of sound judgment, invariably the best of all turfites; and richly he deserved the success which he attained, because he earned it fairly.

Lord George was a warm, a fast friend; but woe to him who made his Lordship an enemy.

In the instance of Mr. Orton, of York (for a long period the respected judge of the races there), his Lordship displayed a determination of feeling which, if not highly creditable to him, was perfectly characteristic of the man. The reason was this:-Orton had been subponed to give evidence in the celebrated" Bloomsbury" case. There was something in the evidence that offended Lord George; and from that moment, as far as Orton was concerned, "Othello's occupation's gone."

York races, at the period of which I am speaking, had fallen into decay; and every means were required in order to promote their restoration. Orton, through a long winter's toil, in making stakes and procuring subscribers, &c., had commenced the foundation upon which might be raised the superstructure of future prosperity; but there was yet something wanting to infuse spirit into the undertaking. Where was that something to be found? All eyes were immediately turned upon Lord George Bentinck. An application was made to the turf leviathan, and he acceded to it but upon one condition: that Mr. Orton should no longer hold office in the chair on Knavesmire. Well, the Racing Committee held a consultation. The influence of Lord George preponderated; and to do a "little right" the committee did a great wrong," and Orton was dismissed.

The resolution of the committee preyed heavily on the mind of Orton; he took to the bottle, and the result was a premature grave. He descended to "the tomb of all the Capulets," and did not live to witness the fruits of his winter's sowing, which have since been so gloriously matured by the skilful management and untiring energy of Mr. Jaques.

John Day and "Gaper" are still fresh in the memory of all; great interest was made by Mr. Gully, and other influential personages, to induce Lord George to hedge with honest John, who had laid heavily against his horse Gaper for The Derby, under the impression that his legs would not stand; and it was only at the eleventh hour that he yielded to the most pressing entreaties, and agreed to hedge part of his money with John, at a short price, still leaving himself to win a large balance, in case the horse should pull through. This fact is mentioned,

not in disparagement of the late nobleman, but in order to show his strong, natural, invariable desire-his pertinacious determination-to cling to any advantage he might possess over any unfortunate being who had incurred his displeasure. Whether this be a vice or a virtue, let the reader determine.

His Lordship was at all times a stringent supporter of the rules and regulations of "the ring:" he would do nothing by halves. This was his principle when he had won a large stake of any man, it was all or

none.

I know one man, who, having lost £4,000 to him, sought and obtained an interview, and made his noble creditor an offer of ten shillings in the pound, with a promise of the residue by instalments. My Lord's reply was, "Sir, no man has a right to bet, if he cannot pay should he lose. The sum I want of you is four thousand pounds, and until that sum is paid you are on the list of defaulters in the ring, and on the course." Certainly, if his Lordship's example had been followed more generally, there would have been fewer Levanters; and the piecemeal system of paying in part has always had an injurious effect upon the market.

The keeping open unsettled accounts produces an irregularity which is most inconveniently felt by all who are compelled to adopt the system of debtor and creditor. The motive of Lord George in refusing to sanction the half-and-half system originated, we firmly believe, in an anxious desire to purge the betting ring of its scum and filth. His death will be the means of letting into the inclosure several outsiders. We hope and trust they will profit by past experience, and take Baillie Nicol Jarvie's advice, "Never to stretch the hand out farther than you can easily draw it back again." His Lordship made Goodwood a "monster" achievement, unparalleled by anything in the annals of the English turf.

His original conditions for the Goodwood Cup put the stare-cap on all the sporting men, and puzzled many an experienced turfite to dissect and understand them; his allowancing and penalising were most curious; his letting in the French horses at such immense advantage, not one of which has carried off a single trophy, proved his Lordship's thorough confidence in the fleetness and endurance of his native racer.

Lord George was the originator and designer of racing vans. It is universally known that these vehicles greatly facilitate the transit of our thorough-breds to the remotest distances in a much shorter time than they could travel formerly, and with much more safety; nor should be forgotten his new mode of flagging the horses to the starting post, one of the greatest and most effective improvements in modern horse. racing. There was no deficiency but what he could supply; no difficulty that his inventive mind could not surmount; no disease, of however long standing, for which he could not find a cure. In him the British turf has lost its right hand; and though some embryo improvements may yet be carried into effect, the soul-stirring spirit which devised so much, and carried out so effectively whatever he designed-the Genius of the Turf-has departed.

Having thus far generally illustrated his Lordship's character, we may descend to a little small talk or gossip as to matters connected with his sporting career.

Lord George, it has been said, displayed a degree of coolness and self

possession by his unshrinking conduct in the fact of his duel with Squire Osbaldiston, the origin of which was said to be as follows:-T'Ould Squire, on meeting his opponent at the Newmarket Craven Meeting, went up to him and said—“ Lord George, I want four hundred won of you at Heaton Park!" The reply was-" You want £400 that you swindled me of, at Heaton Park! There it is!" The result of this reply, and other matters appertaining to it, was a meeting. Lord George was entitled to the first fire; and his bullet taking no effect, he said, with the utmost sang froid-" Now Squire, it's two to one in your favour;" whereupon t'Ould Squire quickly replied-"Is it? Why then the bet's off!" and instantly fired his pistol in the air!

It is somewhat singular that his Lordship should say to Nat, as he doffed the saddle from the back of Surplice, on the event of his St. Leger victory" Nat, from this time I engage you as my jockey, should I ever have again a stud of horses." "I thank you, my Lord," was Nat's reply. His Lordship then turning to a nobleman, remarked-" I shall be in a backward position, Nat having already four masters; but there is no knowing what may happen. If I could be Nat's sole master, I would give him a thousand a year." How strange that Nat's last master should be the first upon whose tomb should be written-" Hic jacet !"

It is said that the old housekeeper, at Harcourt House, who has been through a long life in the service of the Portland family, was in the habit of saying "The boy was killing himself by inches!" "Why," observed the good old dame," how could it be otherwise? However late the boy comes home from that Parliament House, he sits and reads and writes, nor goes to bed until four o'clock in the morning; then he's up again at eight. It's sure to kill him. I know it will. I wish the old Duke was here: I'd get him to talk to the boy!" Thus the garrulous old dame was right beyond all doubt.

Had his Lordship continued his turf career alone, we cannot help thinking he would have been for years to come a living witness of the vast improvement brought about by his instrumentality. But the sudden transition from a pure to an impure atmosphere-from the clear air of the Downs to the fœtid breath exhaled within the purlieus of the House of Commons-a transition from the saddle to the senate-circumstances like these must, if they did not destroy, have impaired the strongest constitution. Besides, quitting the sphere in which his lordship figured so conspicuously, without a rival and without an enemy-where he appeared like a Gulliver among the Lilliputians, and where success attended all his efforts, for a station in which he never acquired a single trophy, and in which he was overwhelmed by continued majorities, must have had a very deleterious effect upon his frame. Peace to his manes !

The eventful life of the late lord, the extraordinary revolution he effected on the turf, the excellence of his private character, the estimation in which he was held by ail honourable men, are themes upon which our limits will not permit us to indulge; but

"Take him for all in all,

We ne'er shall look upon his like again."